Thodikana Sri Mallikarjuna Temple Near Sullia in Karnataka

Sri Mallikarjuna temple is an ancient, holy temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated at Thodikana in Sullia taluk of Karnataka state. It is situated in the midst of greenery surrounded by hills and plantations. The name Thodikana is derived from two words, Thodu (stream) and Kana (forest), as there is a stream called Matsyatirtha, (Matsyameans fish in Kannada/Sanskrit), flowing through the forest which is now turned into plantations. The stream flowing a few metres to the south east has a shoal of fish at a particular spot which is called Meenugundi (Meenu meaning fish and gundimeaning pond in Kannada, so Meenugundi roughly translates to a pond of fish). These fishes are never consumed by the local people but are cared for and fed by the temple authorities and the devotees visiting the temple, as it is believed that Lord Shiva came to this spot using as His vehicle Lord Vishnu himself in the form of fish. The fish is, therefore, revered and worshipped here as incarnation of Lord Vishnu. 

The temple is situated at a distance of 18 kms from Sullia, the taluk headquarters. Those who wish to visit the temple from Sullia have to take a diversion to the right at Aranthodu, on Mangalore-Madikeri Road, and travel through the rubber and areca plantations on either side of the road. Needless to say the journey through the green environs is refreshing and invigorative.

Sri Mallikarjuna temple boasts of a hoary past as Kanva rishi is said to have set up an ashram and performed tapas (meditation) here and installed a shivalinga which was first traced by Malli, a tribal woman, when she was digging the soil to collect plant roots. It is said that while digging, her axe hit a stone and blood started oozing from it. Shocked by this spectacle, she ran to the nearby ashram, where Kanva lived, who learnt by hindsight that this was an ancient shivalinga having immense spiritual powers, and installed it at the place where the temple is located now, so that people found it convenient to visit and worship the idol. 

According to a legend, it is said that Kanva rishi had set up a yajna kund (a pit [fireplace] for offering sacrifice like grains, clarified butter, sandalwood, etc.)  here in the temple complex and the fire lit by him in it has been burning without any break since time immemorial, which devotees can see even now.  As Malli was the first person to locate the shivalingaworshipped in this temple, the deity subsequently came to be called Sri Mallikarjuna.